"You Should be a Comedian"

[NateTheChops]

So, sometimes I'll make someone laugh. Genuinely laugh whether I'm trying to or not. The inevitable comment will occur, "You should be a comiedian."

I'm sure everyone has heard this before. But the truth is I remember wanting to do comedy when I was fourteen. This was back when Seinfeld was still on the air and making me bust a gut.

Jeff Foxworthy was another big one.

When I make someone laugh, either in the check out or just in casual conversation, I am genuinely not trying to make them laugh. I'm just making a random observation or sharing a thought that they happen to think is funny. Then I wonder if I could do the same thing before an audience.

I guess the question is directed towards anyone on the board who has done stand up, or who has the knack for making people laugh and has had this suggested to them. Is it just a polite remark when more than one person says this to me, or should I give it a go? What, if any, experiences have you had on stage doing comedy?

[Frantic Freddie]

As someone who's made a fool of himself too many times to count in front of an audience I say go for it.

Practice in front of a mirror to get your body language down,it can be real important in conveying what you want to say.

Listen to the great comedians,timing is everything.

Topical comedy can be good,but it gets dated real fast.Any comedy to do with the human condition is always good & will be funny forever.Mark Twain is still hilarious because so much of his stuff relates to people,who haven't changed in millenia.I'm sure the comedians at the Forum were telling the same jokes about their bosses,mother-in-laws & siblings that we hear today.

You have to have a special type of ego to get up on a stage & try to entertain people.A little nervousness is OK,it can actually help you perform better,but out & out stage fright is something else (having had an ego the size of Texas since I was old enough to talk makes me the wrong person to talk about stage fright if you have questions about that).

NEVER insult your audiences' intelligence or talk down to them.

Always be nice to them,sign autographs,let them buy you drinks (even if you get them for free,that way the place makes $),if they say they loved you & you know you stunk on ice say "Thank you,glad you liked it" & smile.

Never refuse a tip,money or otherwise...

[firecat88]

I've never been told I should be a comedian (my sister told me once that I should be an actress, but that's another story). However, if it's something you've wanted to do for a while, and people are constantly telling you that you should be one, I agree with Freddie. Go for it.

When I make someone laugh, either in the check out or just in casual conversation, I am genuinely not trying to make them laugh. I'm just making a random observation or sharing a thought that they happen to think is funny.

The best comedy, IMHO, is exactly this. Random observations and musings that just happen to be hilarious for the plain and simple fact that they're usually true.

[KiaKat]

Stand up is difficult.

Figure out what your schtick is and write out an entire script for the show. Include options for bits of seeming ad-lib, that are actually scripted to apply to specific situations (noisy drunk, alarms outside, other potential interruptions). Practice and memorize. Then go to an open mic night at your local stand-up club for a few weeks and just watch what they have. If your script is close in concept to any of theirs, then throw it out and start again. Go back to the club and find out what they require to participate in their OMN. Some ask that you bring a certain number of friends. Others require that you have a recommendation from one of their staff comedians. Get what you need and go be on stage for a night. Take mental notes of what seems to work and what doesn't, then revise. Your goal is to always at least get a chuckle for every routine. Eventually your goal is to make sure that a good bit of the audience is giggling constantly.

It's not easy work, but it's worth it if you're really good. Just don't quit your day job until you're actually touring and making money. Lots of comedians never make any money at it.

[NateTheChops]

Not sure if I would do it to make money, but that would be a nice side effect. I think the real goal for me is to just broaden my horizons a bit. The beauty of the Boston area is there are no shortages of comic nights being held at any given day.

[Dilorenzo]

I've not done stand up, but I'm a huge comedy nerd. If you want some good pointers, listen to The Nerdist podcast, but Chris Hardwick (the host) usually has one thing to say about getting into the business.

Do it. Find open mics. Do them. You'll bomb, you'll be booed, you'll feel absolutely terrible about yourself, but if you're meant to be doing it, you'll stick with it. You'll either find your voice, and find a way to write in your voice, or you won't.

[powerboy]

Oh yeah, I have been told that. I also have performed infront of audiance so to speak. I, alongwith another guy on the paranormal team, are the funny ones. So we always joke around. Guess who the one are that get responses as laughter and what not. Yup us. Also we know quite a few celebrities in the paranormal field. And I am always making them laugh. So it works out for me

[BroSCFischer]

Someone metioned timing is important, and while I know they meant comic timing, you should also consider timing your script. Most amateur nights only allow you onstage for a few minutes before moving to the next act.

Also, test your bits with family members or friends, and make sure they give you honest opinions. Anything that they don't like, I'd cut.

Hope this helps.

SC

[NateTheChops]

Since my biggest priorities from now until the end of December are making sure I don't lose my job and more to the point, don't wind up back in the shelter for longer than I have to, I'm looking at investing in a new digital camcorders.

What I was thinking of doing is working on a routine and delivering it to camera. I figure the Youtube community is as harsh, if not harsher than any comedy club I could stand in front of, and I wouldn't have to travel a lot during the winter. Then whenever I can catch an amateur night at some place closeby I can watch the real thing in action.

[BroSCFischer]

What I was thinking of doing is working on a routine and delivering it to camera. I figure the Youtube community is as harsh, if not harsher than any comedy club I could stand in front of, and I wouldn't have to travel a lot during the winter. Then whenever I can catch an amateur night at some place closeby I can watch the real thing in action.

While that is a good idea for testing your material, it would not be the same as getting in front of a live audience. Some people are funny with their friends, or family, but can't handle the pressures of getting up in front of crowds of strangers.

There is a reason public speaking out ranks death as far as fears go.

SC

[Jester]

I actually do get paid to make people laugh. Kind of.

As some of you probably know, I am a closeup magician, and my act is definitely comedic. I am not the dramatic type...I go for laughs.

I have been told, both as a magician and long before I started my magical career, that I should be a comedian.

Well, the problem, at least for me, is that I am funny in dialogue, but not as much in monologue. My stepbrother tells an amazing story, and is hilarious when doing so, often taking what most people would tell you in a couple minutes and making a full 10-15 minute story out of it, having you in stitches the whole time.

Me, I am at my funniest when reacting to what other people say. Which gives me an advantage with hecklers, as I deal with them very well. Most of the funniest things I've ever said could not have been scripted, though some of the ad libs that just burst from my lips do eventually make it into my act.

But as funny as I can be--and trust me, I am freakin' hilarious, just ask anyone who's seen me naked--it really doesn't translate to standup comedy. I am far better clowning around in a group of people than I could ever be on stage. I suppose if I wanted to I could make an effort and formulate a standup act. It might even work. But not only am I better at dialogue than monologue, I am far more comfortable with it. It's just my natural venue, far more than a stage could ever be.

So, figure out who you are as a comedian, formulate your act, have more material than you would need, but make sure you adjust your routine for the time frame you have. In other words, even if you only have a five minute window, you should still have 20 minutes worth of material (or more), as doing the same damn thing each time gets tired, for both you and the audience. And if it gets tired for you, and you can't make it sound fresh, that very much comes through to the audience.

My advantage in my magical act is that, since it is very interactive, it's really never the same thing twice, as I am having a lot of back and forth with my audience.

But always make sure to know how long your bits go, so that you can fit the time window you have. The worst thing that can happen to you is that you get cut off by management mid joke or mid bit, or that you don't get to close with something strong.

One more thing: some of the funniest comedians I have ever seen always seem to tie it all together by the end, usually with some reference to something earlier in the act. It doesn't have to be a catchphrase (personally I think that Foxworthy is the only one who's ever really made that work), but just some reference to some earlier point or bit. Watch a lot of stand up to see what I'm talking about.

Just make sure you don't start stealing from what you see.

One last thing: be prepared to fail. Not just a little bit, but spectacularly. Be ready to bomb. Be ready for rejection, derision, and hatred. Not everyone laughs at the same stuff, and what plays in Peoria may not play in Providence, if you will.

NEVER insult your audiences' intelligence or talk down to them.

Unless, of course, that is your act. Many great (and not so great) comedians have made a living doing just this. It isn't easy, it can get downright ugly, but if that is the way you are funniest, go for it.

Just be prepared for some backlash if you go this route.

Always be nice to them,sign autographs,let them buy you drinks (even if you get them for free,that way the place makes $),if they say they loved you & you know you stunk on ice say "Thank you,glad you liked it" & smile.

Never refuse a tip,money or otherwise...

Quoted for truth. The one exception I would make to this is if you work a club that prohibits the comedians from accepting tips. Never piss off the people giving you a venue for your act.

What I was thinking of doing is working on a routine and delivering it to camera. I figure the Youtube community is as harsh, if not harsher than any comedy club I could stand in front of, and I wouldn't have to travel a lot during the winter.

Yes, but youtube doesn't react in real time. While delivering to camera and watching it back will help you on your timing, both comedic and overall, there is no substitute for a live audience. And while youtube may well blast you, they may end up being nicer and/or harsher than a live audience would. So use the camera as a tool, but not as a substitute for performing live.

Good luck!